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★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★
Healthy Side Dish
A classic side dish perfect for any potluck. This easy broccoli salad has a tangy but sweet flavor to it and a lot of crunch. With bursts of dried cranberries and fresh apples, this is a salad you can enjoy as a light lunch too!
A go-to side dish for any occasion, broccoli salad is a staple recipe to have on hand. This version, however, brings a new pop of lightened-up flavor into the mix.
Layered with Flavor and Crunch
With a blend of crisp broccoli and fresh apples, it has an added crunch from both pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Tossed in a tangy yogurt dressing with a hint of maple syrup and the result is a savory and sweet salad that’s hard to refuse.
There's a lot to love. Here are a few more perks:
Easy to make: This broccoli salad tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to settle. This means it’s the perfect recipe to make in advance and save yourself some kitchen time.
Flavorful: It’s bright and light but with a savory twist. Each bite has the perfect balance of sweet, chewy, and crunchy which makes you want a second serving immediately.
Versatile: Broccoli salad is delicious throughout the summer months and for large gatherings. It pairs well with any main course and can be enjoyed as a simple lunch as well.
★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
There are two parts to making this broccoli salad. Both of which use easy ingredients you might already have.
For the salad:
- Broccoli florets: Chop the florets into bite-sized pieces so they distribute well throughout the salad.
- Apples: Honeycrisp apples bring with them the sweetest flavor. Dice them so that they blend well and leave the peel on if you like.
- Onion: Sometimes onion can add a hint of spiciness to the salad. So, adjust the amount you use based on personal preference. You can also switch up a regular onion for something like sweet or red onion.
- Dried cranberries: These give a burst of sweetness and chewy flavor. Know that raisins or even dried cherries can be used instead.
- Seeds: Both pumpkin and sunflower seeds are used for an added crunch in the salad.
For the dressing:
- Yogurt: Plain, regular yogurt works best as Greek yogurt will be too thick.
- Apple cider vinegar: Great for digestion, this vinegar gives a tangy taste to the dressing without being overpowering.
- Maple syrup: Opt for real Canadian maple syrup for the best flavor and consistency.
- Garlic and salt: Staples for any dressing, make sure to mince your garlic so that the texture is undetectable.
★ How to Make this Recipe ★
This salad recipe comes together in a pinch and only tastes better as it sits.
Here are the steps:
- Dice vegetables and fruits into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine veggies, fruits and seeds in a bowl.
- Combine dressing ingredients together.
- Stir until smooth.
- Arrange salad on a serving platter or leave in large bowl.
- Coat salad with dressing then serve.
Easy!
★ Tips & FAQs ★
Raw broccoli is perfectly safe to eat and brings with it a delicious crunch. Just make sure it's washed.
However, if you want to blanche your broccoli before mixing together the salad you can. It will soften it up. Just make sure it is cooled or at room temperature before pouring on the dressing.
Yes. You can prep broccoli salad the night before and it will maintain most of its crunch; however, if you apply the dressing, it will soften some.
So, if you know you’ll be making it ahead of time, don’t pour the dressing onto the salad but store it separately. Likewise, you may want to coat the apple chunks in lemon juice to keep them from browning or wait to add them until you need the salad.
You’ll want to store leftover broccoli apple salad in an airtight container in the fridge. It will last 3-5 days.
If you’re making a big batch to have some leftovers, only add the dressing to the amount you plan on eating that day. Otherwise, store the dressing and salad separately so that everything remains crispy.
So glad you asked. Yes. Bacon is almost always a good idea. Mixing in some cooked, crisp bacon helps to amp up the savory flavor of the salad. You can use real bacon bits to save time.
★ More Broccoli Recipes ★
Want more side dish ideas?
Browse all my easy side dish recipes and be sure to Pin your favorites for later!
Broccoli Apple Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 32 oz broccoli florets chopped
- 2 honeycrisp apples diced
- ½ cup red onion finely diced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup pepitas
Dressing
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon garlic paste
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt more or less to taste
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Instructions
- Make the dressing. Add dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake until well combined.
- Make the salad. Chop broccoli, apples, and onion then add the salad ingredients to a large bowl. Add sunflower and pepita seeds. Toss to combine.
- Combine salad and dressing. Pour all of the dressing over the salad mixture and toss again to coat the salad.
- Serve immediately or chill and serve.
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